NFPA Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code 58 Fire Safety Analysis ...

1 PDHonline Course G136 (3 PDH) nfpa Liquefied Petroleum Gas code 58 Fire Safety Analysis Plan and O&MInstructions for Propane StorageSystems2012 Instructor: Tim Laughlin, Online | PDH Center5272 Meadow Estates DriveFairfax, VA 22030-6658 Phone & Fax: Approved Continuing Education PDH Course G136 National Fire Protection Association Liquefied Petroleum Gas code 58 Fire Safety Analysis Plan and Written Operations & Maintenance Instructions For Propane Storage Systems Tim Laughlin, Course Outline 1. Learning objectives 2. Introduction 3. Course content 4. Course summary This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end. Learning Objective At the conclusion of this course, the student will: Be familiar with nfpa 58 Liquefied Petroleum Gas code 2001 Edition, and Have a better understanding of the requirements and other regulatory provisions for preparing a Fire Safety Analysis (FSA) for the storage of propane gas (LP-Gas) and Be able to institute a written Operations & Maintenance for a bulk propane storage facility in accordance with nfpa 58 Chapter 11 requirements.

2 Course Introduction The 2001 edition of the National Fire Protection Associations ( nfpa ) Pamphlet 58, Liquefied Petroleum Gas code requires a written Fire Safety Analysis (FSA) and written Operations & Maintenance Instructions. These requirements originated at the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Risk Management Program (RMP). The nfpa 58 requirements are much less restrictive than what the EPA originally proposed. The requirement for a written (FSA) for all tank installations over 4,000 gallons aggregate capacity becomes effective when your State adopts the 2001 edition nfpa 58, section , Fire Protection (or later editions). New propane bulk plants and tank installations and for ASME tank installations on roofs, must complete an FSA before completion of the new facility. Also, a written FSA is required for all-existing bulk plants, tanks and roof installations by three years after the effective date of the code .

3 In North Carolina, a professional engineer registered in North Carolina must prepare the FSA. Other guidelines for an alternative FSA come under the NC Department of Agriculture. The other RMP-like requirements are found in the new Chapter 11 of nfpa 58, Operations and Maintenance. This requires written procedures for safely conducting LP-Gas activities at bulk and industrial plants. Also, these procedures must be kept up to date. Similarly, maintenance procedures must be prepared and implemented. These must be made available to contractors coming on site to do maintenance. Be sure to look at nfpa 58, Appendix A, sections and for some guidance for what is expected in these procedures and what you may use to help you prepare them. For more information and guidelines on how to conduct a FSA, please visit the following web sites.

4 National Propane Gas Association at or The NC Department of Agriculture s at The National Fire Protection Association at Page 1 of 41 PDH Course G136 Course Content Fire Safety Analysis Manual for LP-Gas Storage Facilities Based on the 2008 Edition of nfpa 58 Liquefied Petroleum Gas code From The National Propane Gas Association & Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) full manual download at The Fire Safety Analysis (FSA) is a self-conducted audit of the Safety features of a propane installation and an assessment of the means to minimize the potential for inadvertent propane releases from storage containers and during transfer operations. The assessment also includes an evaluation of the capabilities of local emergency response agencies as well as an Analysis of potentially hazardous exposures from the installation to the neighborhood and from the surroundings to the LP-Gas facility.

5 Since 1976, nfpa 58, Liquefied Petroleum Gas code (hereinafter referred to as the code or nfpa 58 ) has required that a facility operator or owner conduct a FSA for propane facilities having ASME containers of aggregate storage greater than 4,000 gallons water capacity. The FSA requirement was changed in the 2001 edition to require a written FSA. The requirements for fire protection are indicated in the 2008 edition of nfpa 58 in Specifically ( Planning ) and ( Protection of ASME Containers ) require the following: The planning for the response to incidents including the inadvertent release of LP-Gas, fire, or security breach shall be coordinated with local emergency response agencies. Planning shall include consideration of the Safety of emergency personnel, workers, and the public. Fire protection shall be provided for installations with an aggregate water capacity of more than 4000 gal ( m3) and for ASME containers on roofs.

6 The modes of fire protection shall be specified in a written fire Safety Analysis for new installations and for existing installations that have an aggregate water capacity of more than 4000 gallons and for ASME containers on roofs. Existing installations shall comply with this requirement within 2 years of the effective date of this code . The fire Safety Analysis shall be submitted by the owner, operator, or their designee to the authority having jurisdiction and local emergency responders. The FSA and required assessment of the installation provides several important benefits: 1) A structured assessment by which each facility can be evaluated for conformity of installed equipment with code requirements. 2) A means to evaluate the capability of systems and equipment installed to control and contain potential LP-Gas releases during day-to-day operations.

7 3) An approach to evaluate the informational needs of the facility, based on factors such as the type and frequency of transfer operations, size of the storage containers, location of 1 - 1 the facility with respect to other buildings and the existing procedures and systems in place. 4) A means to describe product control and fire protection features which exceed the comprehensive requirements of NPFA 581. 5) A tool for facilitating a cooperative and effective dialogue with local emergency response agencies and authorities having jurisdiction. Scope of the Manual The manual addresses a number of subjects, including: (1) A review of the product control measures required in the nfpa 58, Liquefied Petroleum Gas code (2) Local conditions of hazards within the facility site (3) Exposures to and from other properties (4) Effectiveness of local fire departments (5) Effective control of leakage, fire and exposure (6) Illustrative examples using four different sizes of typical LP-Gas facilities This FSA manual is intended for use by propane plant owners or operators, consultants, authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) and emergency response personnel.

8 The manual addresses the process by which a FSA can be conducted for a LP-Gas facility containing one or more stationary ASME containers. The FSA manual is designed to provide a guide for identifying the requirements in nfpa 58 and determining compliance with them. Section of nfpa 58 provides, in part, that: The fire Safety Analysis shall be an evaluation of the total product control system, such as the emergency shutoff and internal valves equipped for remote closure and automatic shutoff using thermal (fire) actuation, pull away protection where installed, and the optional requirements of Section The philosophy of nfpa 58 is to minimize fires by minimizing the accidental release of propane if an incident should occur. Or put in simple terms, no fuel, and no fire. The manual does not address the following: 1.

9 Marine terminals, refrigerated LP-Gas storage and the transportation of LP-gas by either rail tank cars or by cargo tank trucks. Marine terminals are governed by the OSHA Process Safety Management regulations and the US EPA Risk Management Plan regulations; refrigerated storage of LP-gas is a high-volume operation requiring special 1 All reference, henceforth, to the pamphlet or the code in this document should be construed as referring to nfpa 58, 2008 edition. 1 - 2 considerations; and, the transportation of LP-gas is addressed by Title 49 of the code of Federal Regulations, Transportation. 2. Storage of LP-Gas in salt domes and caverns. 3. Installations ASME LP-gas containers on roofs of buildings. This type of installation, for which a fire Safety Analysis is Page 2 of 41 PDH Course G136 required, is excluded from the scope of this manual primarily because of the rarity of such installations in the United States.

10 4. Cylinder filling operations at a dispensing facility, unless the storage threshold for LP Gas has been exceeded, requiring an FSA to be prepared. 5. The use of facility employees performing as a fire brigade. The above facilities may be required to comply with other Safety Analysis requirements. Need for a FSA Manual Neither nfpa 58 nor the Liquefied Petroleum Gas code Handbook 3ii provide detailed guidance on how to prepare or develop a written FSA. Since each facility or bulk storage plant presents unique physical and operational characteristics, the fire Safety Analysis is a tool used to assess the level of fire Safety performance that a specific facility or bulk plant can be expected to provide. This FSA will also provide essential information on the facility and its operation to the local authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) and local emergency response agency.